KEY POINTS:
Ruakaka trainer Donna Logan did her best to let rivals know she did not have another Jazella to unleash on her home track today.
Yet the club's feature $20,000 juvenile dash - the first leg of its $100,000 triple crown - has still failed to lure the field
it deserves.
With an 82 rating, three-race winner Jacob is a massive 24 points ahead of the next highest-rated rival in the Royal Gem 2YO, maiden Abbey Tralae.
"A lot of trainers said to me they're concentrating on the listed races, as opposed to racing in all three of the triple crown events.
"But I don't know where they all are, I really don't," said Logan, who trains in partnership with Dean Logan and Chris Gibbs.
"I publicly let everyone know there was no Jazella up my sleeve this year."
Jazella - who races in Brisbane again this Saturday - cruised to easy victories in the first two races in the series, before finishing third in the finale last July.
With six first-starters in the 2007 opener, it's conceivable there could be another freakish performer unveiled today.
But Logan warns punters against banking on her only contender, the Danske gelding The Mooseisloose, fitting the bill.
"I hope he makes a liar out of me, but he's a completely different horse to Jazella," said Logan.
"He just doesn't show that same sort of brilliance the filly did."
Logan thinks the Avondale trial winner may need further than the 1000m he strikes today, and more give in the track.
"We're just going to have a go and assess where he is."
Logan's best hope on a day when the navy blue and turquoise chequers invariably strike, rest with Kate Cross in the R76 1400m.
She says it's best to forget her last start fifth at Dargaville against similar company.
"It wasn't one of the greatest rides," she said. "I'm expecting a big race from her tomorrow [Wednesday]."
Stablemates Don Luciano (race eight) and Yetanuthahoarse (race one) could be the best of the rest.
Logan warns that the 1200m is short of Yetanuthahoarse's best. But the promising gelding ran a close third to Pams Pompallier over 1400m on debut at Ruakaka in January.
Logan says Skandel (race seven) and Mr Colombo (race 10) should be grateful for a firmer track to-day.
Skandel was tripped up by the heavy ground at Pukekohe last Wednesday and is ready for the step up to 2100m.
His placings last campaign included a third over that distance to Baha and No Limits at Ellerslie in December.
The Danske gelding meets nothing of that calibre today and gets a 3kg weight-relief with Sam Collett in the saddle.
